Pneumatic tire



Oct. .12, 1937. G,Y A, CQTTON 2,095,489

. PNEUMATIC TIRE Filed Sept. 4, 1935 Patented Oct. 12, 193'Z PNEUMATIC TIRE George Albert'Cotton, Hebden Bridge, England Application September 4, 1935, Serial No. 39,166

In Great BritainA September 13, 1934 5 oleane.'v (o1. 15a- 11) `The vinvention relates to pneumatic tires for the wheelsof vehicles, of the kind in which a hollow elastic element provided with air inlet andoutlet valves is introduced within an air tube, whereby,

'l should the tire become Apartly deflated from any cause, said elastic element is adapted to automaticallypump air into said air tube to restore and maintain the tire in a properstate of infla-l tion. i

`I-Ieretofore, the inlet and outlet valves associated with the elastic member aforesaid, have consisted of self-contained separate valves, with a v l result, thausheuid it be desired te deflate the tube or tire a further separate valve has had to be provided atY some part of said tube for this purpose.

The object of the present invention is to provide simple and efficient means for effecting automatic inflation, and also for enabling deation of the tube to be effected when desired.- To this end, the inventionconsists of an'elastic member having a hollow portion and a solid portion preferably formed integral with the air tube, a rigid plate being Vinterposed between said portions, said holthe inner wallof the hollow portion Ill.

low portionwbeing in. communication witha combined inlet and out1et valve, in such a manner,

that on a partial'deation of the tube occurring,

air is automatically pumped into saidtire through said valve, and when it is desired to deflate the tire, said valve may also be utilized for this purjv pose.

The invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawing which shows Y solid portion II to constitute a base or support for that part of the hollow portion adjacent the solid portion when the elastic Ymember is expanded or contracted. A valvemember I2 extends out wardly and upwardly from the bottom of the hol..

low portion Iv and through the. tube A. TheV valve member I2 has its inner end flanged as at I3. Between the flange I3 and a retaining collar I4 threaded to the Valve member I2, is clamped The valve member I2 has an axially disposed through opening F which communicates at its lower end with the interior of the tube A andis provided at its opposite end with a combined air inlet and outlet pressure actuated valve D. A casing G surrounds the valve member I2 and is provided at its lower end with a flange I5 between whichf and a threaded collar I6 is clamped the outer` wall of the hollow portion Il] and the tube A.

The outer end of the casing G is closed by a cap y G' threaded to the valve member I2V as at I'I rto provide an air-tight closure at the outer vend-of i the casing G. The cap G' has an airinlet valve B and forms a chamber I8`with the adjacent endof the member I2 when the parts are set up. The chamber I8 communicates through a port I9 with i a passage 2U formed between the valve memberj I2 and the casing G.V Thus means are provided for `withdrawing air from the hollow portion I0 and discharging it into the inner tube A.

It will be seen that upon the tire becoming* partly deflated, the elastic member C will be compressed and the hollow portion I0 contracted when the opposing part of the tire is in contact with the road surface, whereupon the air in the hollow portion I0 is extruded through the passage 2|l to the passages I9 and into the chamber the cap G to close and the valve D to open, thus :m enabling the air to enter the passage F andpass through into the air tube A. When substantially all of the air in the hollow portion II) of the mem- I8 under sufficient pressure to cause the valve B in ber C has been extruded and the pressure thereon removed by the opposing part of the tire moving out of contact with the road surface, the elastic t' member C automatically regains its normal shape and as the outer and inner walls of the hollow portion I0 move away from each other, a vac uum is created within the chamber I8 whichgCaus'esY the Vvalve B to open while the pressure of the airl inthe tube A and the opening F in the valve member I2 causes the valve D to be moved and held in its closed position. The opening of the air valve B fills the hollow portion I0 of the member C with a fresh supply of air. These intermittent operations are continued until the air tube A reaches the predetermined degree of iniiation when Vfurther compression of the hollow portion It of the member CY ceases.

When it is desired to deiiate the air in tube A the cap G may be removed and valve D operated to allow air to escape from the tube A. It will be seen that the valve D is so associated with the hollow portion I0 of the elastic element C and the inner tube A as to automatically pump air into the tube from the hollow portion I Il when the tire is partly deflated. Further when it is desired to deate the tire, the valve D can be the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

By reducing the size of the member C relative to the diameter of the air tube, a different degree of iniiation may be obtained'.

What I claimas my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isz- Y 1. In combination with the inner tube of` a pneumatic tire, an elastic member withirrth'e tube having a solid portion and a hollow portion, a casingr connected to the tube and communicating withl the interior of the hollow portion, and valve means extending axially into the casing and communicating withV the interior of the tube for controlling the supply of air from the hollow portion to the tube, whereby upon the tube being deflated the elastic rnemberis contracted by presi suretransmittedthroughthe solid portion on deformationV ofV the portion of the tire in contact with the road so as to force air from the hollow portion through the casing and to open the valve and be conductedV to the inner tube to inflate the same. Y y

2. In combinationY with the inner tube of a pneumatic tire, an elastic member within the tube having a solid portionr and a laterally offset hollow portion, a casing connected to the tube and communicating with the interior of the hollow portion, and valve means extendingk axially within thefcasing and communicating with the interior of the tube for controlling thesupply of air from theV hollow portion to the tube, whereby upon the tube1being; deflated the elastic member is contractedxby pressure transmitted through the solid portion on deformationtof the portion ofthe tire incontact with the road soA as to force air from the'hollow portion through the casing and to open the valve. and be conducted to the inner tube to inflate the same.

3'. In combination with the inner tube of a pneumatic tire, an elastic member within Vthe tube having a solid portion and a hollow portion in tegrall with the tube, a rigid` plate interposed be- 55? tween said hollow portionl and said solid portion,

a casing connected' to the Vtubeand communicating with the interior' of the'hollow portion, andv a combined air inlet and outlet valve member extending axially Within the casing and communieating with the interior of the tube for controlling the supply of air from the hollow portion to the tube, whereby upon the tube being deflated the elastic member is contracted by pressure transmitted through the solid portion on deformation of the portion of the tire in contact with the road so as tol'force air from the hollow portion through the casing and to open the valve and be conducted to the inner tube to inate the same.

`4t. In combination with the inner tube of a pneumatic tire, an elastic member within the tube andA having a hollow portion and a solid portion, a casing connected to the tube and communicating with the interior of the hollow portion, a tubular member connected to the elastic member, said tubular, member extending from the tube into lsaid casing to form a passage therebetween, a

cap for the casing threaded to the tubular member, and a check valve in said tubular member for controlling communication between the hollow portion and the tube, whereby upon the tire being deflated to cause the elastic member to be contracted by pressure transmitted through the solid portion on deformation of the portion of the tube in contact with the road so asftoforce air fromL the hollow portion through the casing and to open the valve and be conducted through the tubular member into the inner tube to inflate the latter.

5. In combination with the` inner tube of a pneumatic tire, an elastic member within the tube and having a hollow portion and a solid: portion, a casing connected to the tube and communicating with thek interior of the hollow portion, a tubular member connected to the elastic member and extending within said casing, a cap for the casing threaded to the tubular member, said cap having a vacuum operated valve for controlling the admission of air into the' casing, andmeaus controlling the supply of air from the hollow portion to the inner tube whereby upon the tire being deflated, the elasticfmember is contractedv by pressure'transmitted through the solid portion on deformation of the portion of the tube in contact with the road to forceV air from the hollow portion tothe interior of the tube through the casing and the tubular member, said means upon the hollow member regaining its normal shape for closing communication between the tube and the hollow portion and therebyl creating a vacuum Vin the casing and the hollow portion for opening thev vacuum valve toA permit the introduction of air intothe hollow member through the casing.

GEORGE A. COTTON 

